A man nicknamed the “Cinderella” phone thief by the City of London Police has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after DNA from a lost shoe linked him to the crime.

On August 7, Spencer Duarte, a 29-year-old from Saffron Waldon, Essex, snatched a phone from an unsuspecting individual while riding an e-bike on Ludgate Hill. He was confronted by members of the public and managed to escape, leaving behind one of his trainers.

Duarte was convicted on September 24 at Inner London Crown Court after pleading guilty to theft in June.

The police discovered DNA evidence on the abandoned shoe, which was matched to Duarte on the national database, leading to his arrest a month later on September 9.

The crime was recorded on CCTV, which showed Duarte escaping with one shoe.

PC Jake Dean commented, “This is an excellent outcome as we’ve successfully locked up another phone thief. While it may appear to be just one phone, this conviction highlights the unwavering commitment of law enforcement in apprehending those who steal phones and recovering devices for their owners.”

Authorities noted that the victim has experienced anxiety about returning to London and has faced health issues due to the incident.

Andrew Walker, the physical forensics manager with the City of London Police, elaborated on how they utilized DNA evidence to apprehend Duarte.

“We obtained enough DNA from the shoe to create a primary profile suitable for comparisons against the national DNA database. This search yielded a match to a male whose profile was already on file. The shoe fit our Cinderella, allowing us to bring him to justice.”